A lively odyssey on the “Last Railway in the West Indies”
I’ve been wanting to ride the “Last Railway in the West Indies” for several years now, so when we finally decided to vacation in St. Kitts & Nevis, the first thing I did was get tickets for this tour. I’m glad I did – It may be the most enjoyable way to see the island.
To catch the train, we arrived early at the Needsmust Train Station, located right next to the airport on the outskirts of the island’s capital, Basseterre. I stood on the railway line, first looking at the colourful double-decker train behind me, then I gazed ahead at the narrow tracks that disappear into a carpet of green that is St. Kitts. As we were visiting during the interesting times of covid-19 restrictions, we were unable to choose which railway car we would travel in. If I had my choice, I would have gone to the last car, looking forward (pun intended) to awesome views of the locomotive and train cars in front as we traveled around corners. However, there were 3 different cruise ships in port the day of our tour, with each cruise line being assigned its own railcar. A good precaution that makes sense during the pandemic. So, along with residents of St. Kitts and other folks staying on the island, we were assigned to the first car, immediately behind the engine. It’s all good – We still managed to get cool shots of the train cars trailing behind us.
Once we boarded the train, we went up the tight spiral staircase to the open-air upper deck so we could enjoy the Caribbean breeze and take advantage of the height. From this vantage point, we could see over tall vegetation and fully appreciate the amazing panoramic views of the island and sea. As we slowly pulled out of the train station, I noticed the locomotive graveyard off to the side which appeared to include some old 20th century power plants. For you train buffs out there, I believe they are of the PKP class Lyd2 variety. It’s incredible to think that this unique “narrow gauge railway” system was originally built between 1912 and 1926 – I can’t say I’ve ever been on a 100-year-old railroad before.
Leaving the station we headed north through Canada, a surprisingly named district of St. Peter Basseterre Parish – That got a good chuckle from the North American Canadians on board. Running along the north-eastern coast of St. Kitts provided spectacular views of the island’s coastal region. Near the town of Cayon, the train tracks hugged the coastline while the main road we had run parallel to, veered inland. This stretch presented us with a beautiful view of the shoreline of St. Kitts, flanked by the endless blue of the Atlantic Ocean. I was pleasantly surprised to see the friendly people of St. Kitts waving to us as we passed by their villages. A very welcoming experience.
Throughout the tour, a wonderful guide narrated our journey. She enthusiastically provided passengers with insight as to the regions we were passing through, sprinkling in bits of island history as we advanced northward. I recall her telling us about how the railway system was originally built to collect sugar cane from the island’s plantations, delivering the sweet bounty into Basseterre for processing and export to markets overseas. That the “sugar train” was still running up until 2005 is a testament to the success of Saint Kitt’s sugar industry! Our guide also talked about life on the island prior to the railway, typically recounting stories of the English and French rulers of the time. She successfully painted a mental picture of Caribbean rural island life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
As we rumbled along the tracks, the train wobbled a bit from side to side – All part of the experience of riding on this historic railway. For the most part, the train line ran along a fairly straight path, although I felt us taking a few horseshoe-shaped turns inland once in a while, likely to get around some of the more dramatic landscape features of the island. Speaking of which, a highlight of the train ride occurred every time we traversed a gulley, or what they call “ghut” in St. Kitts. Crossing over tall steel bridges amplifies the engineering wonder of how this tall wide train safely traverses the narrow tracks.
Did I mention that the tour included an open bar? Well ya, it does! While I hesitated for a second, I couldn’t help myself from ordering a mango daiquiri, even if it is only 9:30 in the morning. There were servers on each car, offering a variety of rum-based or virgin fruit juices, as well as soda/pop and water. We wanted for nothing on this full-service tour.
Just past the town of Belle Vue, famous for the island’s outcrop of volcanic ‘black rocks’, the train tracks crossed over the main road and headed slightly inland. I appreciated our tour guide pointing out a couple of large bat caves in the cliffs we passed, as I would have otherwise missed them. Meanwhile, the train continued to clackity-clack along the track. As should be expected from a train cruising through the rustic Caribbean countryside, the locomotive driver also blew the horn from time to time. What I didn’t anticipate was that it was not warning people of our approach, but it was signalling the sheep, goats and the occasional cow to get off the tracks – Now that’s not something you see every day. What a hoot!
Not that we needed an interruption from the scenic beauty of St. Kitts, but the tour also included a unique entertainment experience as well. For an interesting change of pace, a couple of costumed characters suddenly appeared in the train car, dancing to the beat of festive music. For anyone who has attended the annual St. Kitts & Nevis’ Sugar Mas Carnival, you would instantly recognize the traditional costume of the Moko Jumbie – ‘ghosts’ of folklore.
While we had already enjoyed great views of the island, perhaps the most scenic part of the journey was at the north end of St. Kitts. I thought it was really cool to see pairs of windmill and smokestack ruins, revealing the remains of old sugar plantations in an expanse of lush vegetation. Of course, the majestic Mount Liamuiga towering in the background really added to the scenery! That said, looking away from St. Kitts was just as nice, first with St. Barts and St. Maarten on the distant horizon, then followed by the sublime close-up views of Sint Eustatius with Saba in the background.
Rounding the northeast corner of St. Kitts, our guide spent some time explaining how, due to reduced tourism thanks to the covid pandemic, the residents of the island have once again turned to agriculture for income and self-sufficiency. St. Kitts & Nevis have such fertile land, it’s easy to understand that fruits and vegetables would grow well, where tobacco, cotton and sugar cane once flourished. Just past the St. Kitts Eco-Park near the village of Fig Tree, the train portion of our tour sadly came to an end. A loop in the tracks mark the end of the line, where we were met with buses filled with folks anxious to enjoy their tour back to the train station.
So we swapped rides, transferring to a bus for the journey down the west coast. We journeyed through quaint little villages before passing Basseterre’s waterfront and eventually heading back to the train station. The bus tour took us past several old churches as well as the iconic St. Kitts tourist attractions of Brimstone Fortress and Romney Manor. The bus driver pointed out areas of interest along the way – I was especially keen to see Bloody Point, near the town of Challengers. I had been unable to find the exact location of this infamous historical spot on any map. On a brighter note, I liked seeing the Carib distillery, as we’ve been enjoying the refreshing beverage while vacationing on the island.
All in all, the tour lasted just under 3 hours, although it seemed that we learned and experienced so much in such little time! Apparently, we had travelled 18 miles by train and a further 12 miles by bus. For those visiting St. Kitts for the first time and wanting to see the island without the stress of renting a car, there’s probably no better option than the St. Kitts Scenic Railway. By the way… If you’re looking for increased comfort and protection from the elements the upper deck may not provide, you might prefer the plush, well-appointed lower cabins of the train. They have air conditioning, carpeted floors and spacious cushioned chairs enabling you to enjoy the view out the large windows in luxury.
For more information on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway Tour, including the ability to book your own Caribbean railway experience of a lifetime, check out their website at StKittsScenicRailway.
If you’re looking for some exciting and physically challenging things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog post for some great ideas!
Need a break from winter? Here’s our rest of the best Caribbean Destinations for adventure!
Now that winter is underway in many parts of the world, folks might be looking for a reprieve from the cold and snow with a warm and sunny Caribbean vacation. After a couple of years of travel restrictions, it’s time to get your blood pumping and your mind blown by experiencing the natural wonders of the Caribbean Islands. Swim in the warm Caribbean Sea and take a peak below to witness an alien world or discover waterfalls along trails through a lush green rainforest. This is nature’s best medicine to awaken your senses. Of course, a round of golf or a warm relaxing day fishing or kayaking will also make you feel warm and alive! If you’re thinking of heading south for a warm-weather vacation, check out our recommendations for the best Caribbean adventure destinations for winter/spring 2023.
For this article, we’re highlighting the Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature to enjoy snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. With the Euro the lowest it’s been for several years, we also gave the French Caribbean an extra, well-deserved look. If you missed part one of this article, we covered the beautiful and exciting Caribbean Island destinations of the Cayman Islands, Martinique and Bonaire – You can access Part 1 by clicking here. As for the rest of our list, here we go…
One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Barbados
Barbados sits alone as the most easterly island in the southern Caribbean. The unique coral-based island may be best known for its beautiful white sand beaches and cute ‘moke’ vehicles, however it is also one of the best Caribbean Island destinations to enjoy watersports, snorkeling, diving, golf and rum!
With its unique position in the Caribbean, Barbados enjoys near-constant trade winds while its various coastlines experience a variety of wave conditions. Combine that with amazing white sand beaches and year-round warm weather and you get one of the top 3 best Caribbean Islands for water sports! With a couple dozen hotspots around the island, surfing is king in Barbados. The southwest coast is ideal for beginners while the south coast’s consistent year-round waves and numerous local surf shops make it the home to the real surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing scene. That said, world-class surfing swells are found on the east coast of Barbados at the famous Soup Bowl. Stand-Up-Paddleboarding and SUP surfing is popular all along the southwest and west coasts of the island while the best Barbados kayaking spots include the rugged and beautiful north and northwest coasts, as well as along the calm west coast. For those with a need for speed, you can also find jet ski rentals and boat operators offering waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and more.
For more tips on watersports options in Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Barbados Water Sports page.
With its gorgeous beaches and easy access to shallow artificial reefs close to shore, Barbados is also a great place to get in the sea to snorkel. While there are a variety of beach-accessible snorkel spots all along the west and southwest coasts of Barbados, a couple of the best locations might be the two marine sanctuaries, Folkestone Marine Park and Carlisle Bay Marine Park. There are several shipwrecks, plenty of colourful coral, fans and sponges as well as tropical fish and other marine life to observe. That said, the island’s main attraction is probably the friendly Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles, regularly spotted in Carlisle Bay. While perhaps not well known outside of the scuba diving community, Barbados is also a great Caribbean diving destination. The island has over twenty dive sites, featuring a variety of coral reef structures including gently sloping fringe reefs, bank reefs as well as deep double-sided barrier reefs. There are several shipwrecks to explore, including the 360-foot freighter Stavronikita, widely considered to be one of the most impressive wrecks in the Caribbean.
For more details on exploring the underwater world of Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators, dive shops and boat operators who can get you in the sea, check out our Barbados Snorkeling and/or our Barbados Scuba Diving pages.
One of the top 3 best golf destinations in the Caribbean, Barbados offers half a dozen links to choose from. They include: The Barbados Golf Club, an 18-hole / Par 72 golf course measuring 6,805 yards that was re-designed/built in 2000 by Ron Kirby to feature gently rolling hills and wide-open fairways; The Sandy Lane Golf Club, which offers 3 courses along with a driving range – The club’s 18-hole / Par 72 course measuring 7,060 yards was designed by Tom Fazio with several water hazards and relaxing views of the Caribbean Sea; The environmentally friendly Apes Hill Club is an 18-Hole / Par-72 championship course that plays to 7,150 yards (Professional Tees) or just over 5,000 yards (Front Tees); The Royal Westmoreland course is a Robert Trent Jones Jr designed 18-hole / Par 72 golf course measuring 7,045 yards with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea and features multiple bunkers as well as a ravine hazard; and the Rockley Golf & Country Club is a flat parkland course consisting of 9 holes with alternate tees for an 18-Hole / Par 70 experience measuring 5,610 yards.
For more info on playing golf in Barbados, check out our Barbados Golf page.
Barbados’ reefs and deep-sea trenches make it an ideal Caribbean fishing destination as well. While big game fish are plentiful in the south and west coast seas during the winter months, Barbados’ inner and outer reefs on both coasts offer year-round fishing options. If it’s game fish you’re after, there are plenty of Blue Marlin, Wahoo (kingfish), and Sailfish to pull in from the deep, with most of the island’s fishing hotspots just a few miles from shore. Barbados fishing can satisfy the desires of true fishing enthusiasts as well as folks just looking for a day at sea with friends and family. If you’re looking for some competitive fishing, you’re welcome to participate in the annual Barbados International Fishing Tournament that takes place every April.
For more tips on fishing in Barbados, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our Barbados Fishing page.
We would be remiss in not also mentioning that Barbados has been producing rum for over 350 years and is generally considered the birthplace of the famous golden elixir. Barbados is justifiably known for some of the best rum in the world, perhaps owing to the island’s unique coral make-up, as compared to the volcanic composition of other Caribbean islands. Your trip to Barbados will be complete once you visit the enjoyable Mount Gay and/or Foursquare Rum Distilleries. For more details on the rums of Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators who can get you on a distillery tour, check out our Barbados Rum page.
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Barbados, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Barbados Vacation Ideas page.
One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Grenada
The most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands, Grenada is a tri-island nation that includes the main island of Grenada along with Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger and vanilla, Grenada and the other islands are also a great Caribbean destination for hiking, fishing, snorkeling and diving as well as a variety of water sports!
With Marine Parks protecting several areas of the ocean, including the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Grenada is a top Caribbean Island for snorkeling. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea from a handful of the islands’ white sandy beaches or take a short boat ride for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore dozens of underwater statues and healthy coral reefs alive with colourful tropical fish and amazing marine life. Similarly, with over 30 dive sites, Grenada is also a top Caribbean scuba diving destination. The island has dive sites featuring reefs, wrecks and underwater gardens in a variety of depths, offering something for everyone. If it’s shipwrecks you’re after, Grenada has more divable wrecks than any other Caribbean island, including the Titanic of the Caribbean, the ‘Bianca C’. Then there is the diving gem that is Carriacou, known as the ‘Island of Reefs’, where you can enjoy an additional 20 dive sites in the less-visited cooler waters of the Grenadines.
For more details on exploring Grenada’s underwater world, including contact info for local tour operators, dive shops and boat operators who can get you in the water, check out our Grenada Snorkeling and/or our Grenada Scuba Diving pages.
Grenada’s reefs, shoals and deep water close to shore also make it one of the best places in the southern Caribbean for catching a wide variety of fish. This includes plenty of deep-sea sport fish like sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin and even the occasional tuna. If you’re interested in a few days of competitive fishing, you’re welcome to join hundreds of like-minded anglers for a week of fun at the Spice Island Billfish Tournament, held every January. For more details on fishing in Grenada, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our Grenada Fishing page.
For even more amazing outdoor experiences on the water, Grenada’s protected bays and mangroves along with Carriacou’s quiet beaches provide the perfect setting for a relaxing day kayaking or Stand-Up-Paddleboarding. More adventurous kayakers can challenge the waves by journeying around an offshore island or two. That said, river tubing through a rainforest down Grenada’s Balthazar River is a must for new visitors to the island! For more tips on watersports options in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Grenada Water Sports page.
Meanwhile, back on dry land, adventurers can explore the island’s mountainous terrain to experience first-hand why Grenada is also considered one of the best Caribbean destinations for hiking. Avid hikers can enjoy trails through rainforests that feature waterfalls and their accompanying pools, as well as strenuous mountain climbs for spectacular views. While the most iconic hike in Grenada, with its impressive view of a Crater Lake, is probably the Mount Qua Qua trail in Grand Etang Lake and National Park, mountain hikers will also enjoy the tallest peak on the island, Mount St. Catherine which stands 2,760 feet (840m) above sea level. There are plenty of other hiking trails to choose from in Grenada, including some dry scrubland trails in the south of the island. Not to be outdone, Carriacou also has a number of trails worth exploring as well.
For more information and tips on hiking in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Grenada Hiking pages.
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Grenada Vacation Ideas page.
One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 is Dominica
Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth of Dominica is located north of Saint Lucia, between Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is the youngest island in the region with geothermal activity you can experience for yourself by hiking to the second-largest hot spring in the world, aptly named Boiling Lake. Besides being one of the top 3 Caribbean Island destinations for hiking, the “Nature Island” also offers incredible canyoning, snorkeling, diving, and fishing adventures… just waiting to be discovered!
Dominica is famous for its wild mountainous landscape and plentiful rivers and waterfalls. The tallest peak on the island is Morne Diablotins, which at 4,747 feet (1,447 m) above sea level, makes it the ninth tallest in the Caribbean. For unique hiking adventures, Dominica has a challenging trail to the aforementioned Boiling Lake, which is literally ‘boiling’, as well as an untamed river trail to the gorgeous Victoria Falls. There are literally dozens of trails on the island throughout an extensive natural park system including Cabrits National Park, the Northern Forest Reserve, the Central Forest Reserve, as well as Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its ‘Natural’ beauty. Dominica is also home to the Waitukubuli National Trail – 115 miles (184 km) of trails weaving across the length of the island. For the more adventurous, Dominica also has a burgeoning canyoning scene with several natural waterpark playgrounds concealed in a number of canyons, gorges and waterfalls just begging to be climbed and rappeled!
For more information and tips on hiking in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Dominica Hiking pages.
Dominica is also protecting its natural underwater world with the Soufriere-Scott’s Head Marine Reserve and the Cabrits Marine Reserve, making it a great Caribbean Island for snorkeling. The island has several sheltered bays along the western side of the island with close-to-shore reefs that are ideal for spotting tropical fish, large fish as well as rays and turtles. While it may not match the rugged beauty of snorkeling in the calm waters off Scott’s Head beach, you should experience for yourself the unique snorkeling spot known as Champagne Reef where Dominica’s volcanic activity can be viewed underwater as air bubbles seep through volcanic fumaroles on the seabed while you explore the corals and fish in the area. Wow!
The island is also an undiscovered mecca for scuba diving with shallow coral reefs, pinnacles, and steep drop-off cliffs with incredible caves and pass-throughs. There are dozens of dive sites to choose from along the west coast of Dominica, with a variety of options appropriate for divers with various skill levels. The reefs and walls are covered with colourful corals, tubes, fans, sponges and a wide assortment of diverse marine life including fish, eels, seahorses, shrimp, and more. Freedivers looking for a new place to explore will love the underwater crater in Soufriere Bay, which can be easily accessed via the fixed freediving platform.
Unsurprisingly, Dominica’s healthy reef systems and deep waters, also make it a great destination for Caribbean fishing. Sports fisherman dream about the big marlin, sailfish, yellowfin skipjack, tarpon, wahoo, dorado and mackerel that you can catch in the waters of Dominica. As an added bonus, you might be fortunate enough to see dolphins and whales swimming alongside your boat as you journey to and from the island’s fishing hot spots!
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Dominica Vacation Ideas page.
One of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2023 are the Guadeloupe Islands
Located south of Antigua & Barbuda, the Guadeloupe archipelago consists of more than a dozen islands/islets – The two largest, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are only separated by a small channel, making the two islands appear as the wings of a butterfly. The less busy and relatively uninhabited islands of Marie-Galante, Les Saintes Bay and La Désirade are the other major islands in the archipelago. The Guadeloupe Islands are recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve providing a gorgeous natural setting for all sorts of Caribbean adventures like hiking, snorkeling, diving as well as a variety of water sports. Of course, there’s plenty of rhum as well!
Basse-Terre is a mountainous lush green paradise for hikers. The healthy natural ecosystem of the Parc National de la Guadeloupe contains the largest rainforest of the Lesser Antilles and has well over 100 miles (160km) of hiking trails to explore. Several trails lead to the top of La Grande Soufrière volcano, which at 4,813 feet (1,467m) above sea level is the eighth tallest of all the Caribbean Islands! A couple of other popular trails include the Chute du Carbet and the Cascade aux Ecrevisses, both ending with rewarding waterfall cascades! With over a hundred trails across the Guadeloupe archipelago, these islands have to be in the top 3 hiking spots in the Caribbean.
As the story goes, Jacques Cousteau, the famous scuba diving innovator and oceanographer was very impressed with Guadeloupe’s underwater world – The Guadeloupe Islands returned the compliment by naming a Marine Reserve in his honour. The Cousteau Marine Park at Pigeon Island, Basse-Terre is home to some of the best snorkeling and dive spots in Guadeloupe. While a boat or kayak is required to reach Pigeon Island as well as the shipwrecks and coral located in the shallows of the Grand-Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve, there are over 10 great snorkeling spots that can be accessed from beaches around Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre and Iles des Saintes. While snorkelers can appreciate colourful corals, sponges, sea fans, turtles and tropical fish, divers can explore over 20 sites that feature diverse coral gardens with underwater canyons, arches and swim-throughs, along with shipwrecks, turtles, rays, and even whales, along with a wide variety of fish. For another fascinating example of underwater geothermal activity check out the champagne dive at Bouillante, Basse-Terre. There are over a dozen dive shops across the Guadeloupe Islands ready to get you in the water.
Another great way to get exercise and explore nature in the Butterfly Islands is to kayak in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve lagoon. While exploring the reefs and mangroves you may be fortunate enough to spot a manatee swimming around or grazing on the seagrass. The Nature Reserve is also a great place to try Stand-Up Paddle-boarding. Meanwhile, on the east coast of Grande-Terre, surfers can find that perfect northeast swell to ride. While most kayak and SUP action takes place near Basse-Terre’s Malendure beach and the Pigeon Islands, there are places to rent SUP boards all over the islands, along with opportunities for the more adventurous to join a long-distance race paddling between islands.
Of course, the Guadeloupe Islands have a large selection of rhum distilleries to visit as well! Similar to its nearby neighbour Martinique, Guadeloupe produces “rhum agricole” from local sugar cane and is home to more than a handful of world-class distilleries in Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre and Marie-Galante. Most of Guadeloupe’s distilleries are open to the public, offering affordable plantation (habitation)/distillery tours, along with rhum tasting and storefronts to purchase the rhum(s) of your choice!
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Guadeloupe, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Guadeloupe Vacation Ideas page.
So that’s our view of the top Caribbean adventure destinations for 2023. While the above list may feature the very best Caribbean Islands for a combination of snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports and golf, that does not take anything away from other amazing islands that can also be enjoyed for Caribbean adventures. Some of our other favourites include Jamaica, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, The US Virgin Islands, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, as well as Trinidad & Tobago.
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined in the opening paragraphs.
We hope you liked our assessment and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
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Rum is such a big part of Caribbean history that whenever I’m in the Caribbean I just have to visit a local distillery or two. However, in the French Caribbean Island of Martinique, the choice is almost overwhelming. While plenty of Caribbean islands produce Rum, Martinique could be considered the rum, or should I say rhum (en Francais), capital of the world. With over 10 distilleries and likely hundreds of rhums produced on the island, the folks in Martinique take their rum-making seriously. This is evident with the formalization of the liquid gold with an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) certification. Similar to French-made wines, cheeses and other spirits, the designation certifies the authenticity of Martinique rhums, characterized by their unique geographical origin and production techniques. The terminology used to describe Martinique rhums are also akin to brandies or wines – This includes rhum classifications such as VO, VSOP and XO, and some rhums from a particularly good batch are even sold as ‘vintages’
Oh… One other thing I should also mention is that French “Rhum Agricole” (agricultural rum) is made directly from sugar cane juice, not the molasses by-product of producing sugar, which is the case for most other Caribbean rums. As a result, Martinique rhum production includes a few different steps than other Caribbean distilleries and some of their rhums can be much more expensive than molasses-based rums – We’re talking hundreds of euros per bottle expensive. That said, a great thing about Martinique’s distilleries is that most of them are open to the public, offering free or reasonably priced plantation/distillery tours and rhum tasting along with storefronts providing the opportunity to purchase the rhum(s) of your choice.
So… on our recent trip to Martinique, I had to check out a couple of the rhum industry heavyweights, along with a couple of lesser-known distilleries.
Distillerie Saint-James et Musée du Rhum
Our first stop had to be the world-renowned Saint James Distillery and Museum of Rhum located in Sainte-Marie on the northeast coast of the island. We parked right next to the large distillery building which unfortunately was not in operation or open to tour when we visited in January, as it is “not in harvest season”. Instead, we wandered around on a self-guided tour of the Museum of Rhum / Maison de la Distillation. The old two-story building is filled with historical St. James memorabilia including old rhum-making equipment such as distillation columns, stills and steam-powered machinery. The building also contains tons of information on Martinique, sugar cane, as well as the French Agricole rhum-making process. For me, it was a thrill to see the incredible stash they have in their basement – Display cases stocked with very old rhums, some dating back as far as the 19th century!
I understand the rhums of St. James began in the 18th century when the Reverend Father in charge of a local hospital built a sugar refinery nearby, which eventually also produced alcohol. The rhum is named after one of the regions providing sugar cane to the refinery. However as France had banned alcohol sales other than wine at the time, the rhum produced was named Saint James, not Saint Jacques, making it easier to sell in the English colonies. Later in the 19th century, the St. James distillery parted ways with the typical round fat bottle of the time, becoming famous for its square bottle. While this move was likely developed to increase shipping efficiency, it presented a modern clean look, that is still attractive today.
After our enjoyable museum visit we went to their little train station out back. It wasn’t long before we boarded an old narrow-gauge train consisting of a small locomotive and three open-air passenger cars. Our train ride took us through fields of sugar cane and other crops in various stages of growth, as well as remarkably close to some residences – Not something we would ever see in North America. A young St. James tour guide entertained the passengers with an interactive and humorous presentation, most of which I, unfortunately, didn’t understand as my conversational French was not up to the task.
Our guide also did double duty as a crossing guard and switchman, hopping off the train at one point to manually sound an alarm and perform flag-man duties as the train crossed a rural road. The train traveled about a mile (< 2km) or so before stopping and reversing course, where at one point our tour guide once again jumped off, this time to switch our track, which took us to the impressive Habitation La Salle.
At the Habitation La Salle train station we disembarked and walked a short distance along a river before crossing a bridge and entering a wonderfully restored collection of 17th-century buildings. Formerly a sugar refinery, now the buildings house a coffee museum, a display of mill equipment used to crush sugar cane into juice, a fascinating “guildiverie” where evaporators and stills were used to produce tafia (a predecessor to rum), as well as aging/storage warehouses. There’s also a special tasting area and shop selling top-shelf artisan bottles of La Salle and St. James branded rhum. After meandering around the grounds of the habitation and exploring the banks of the river, the train returned to pick us up and return us back to the grounds of the St. James Distillery.
On the way to the St. James rhum shop, I noticed a small workshop where a craftsman was demonstrating how the rhum barrels are charred, instilling flavour into the rhum as they age – that was pretty cool. The building that houses the store, with its collection of old distillery and other centuries-old local artifacts, is a museum in its own right, almost distracting from the long bar at the back. Staffed with plenty of friendly and informative patrons, the tasting bar was a happening place. St. James’ latest offerings include a number of white and amber rhums, a variety of aged rhums along with some incredible vintage rhums as well as some interesting premixed concoctions.
While it was great to be immersed in Martinique’s rhum-making history and tradition, we eventually decided that our St. James Rhum experience had to come to an end… After a visit to the nearby Banana Museum and Habitation, we headed back to where we were staying on the other side of the island.
Rhum Depaz
The next afternoon it was overcast and threatening to rain – An excellent opportunity to explore another Martinique rhum distillery! Located in the foothills of Mount Pelee on the northwest side of Martinique just outside the former capital city of Saint-Pierre, reside the impressive grounds of the Depaz plantation and distillery. Back in the 17th century, this was home to the island’s first French Governor and his large farm known as La Montagne.
As soon as we arrived at the Depaz property, we were immediately drawn to the magnificent, what the English would call a Greathouse, on the nearby hillside. Chateau Depaz, also known as Depaz Castle, was built in the early 20th century as a replica of the childhood home of Victor Depaz. The original building was destroyed, along with the city of Saint-Pierre and the surrounding area, in 1902 when the Mount Pelee volcano erupted. Situated between colourful gardens with Mount Pelee in the background and manicured lawns and fields of sugar cane, the chateau enjoys spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.
After wandering around the grounds for a while, we passed a large 19th-century water wheel before heading towards the distillery and a number of other buildings, situated in a beautiful park setting complete with magnificent centuries-old trees. Once again, we were ‘out of season’ when we visited in January so the distillery was not in operation nor open to the public. I understand that the buildings still operate with power from an old steam engine, fuelled by the remains of crushed sugar cane. It is unfortunate that we were not able to witness the crushing of the cane, the fermentation or the distillation of the precious juice. We did however stroll into the small Depaz Museum displaying some old farm and distillation equipment, as well as some other buildings. The highlight for me had to be peering into the warehouses used to store and age the delicious outputs from the distillery.
Eventually we made our way into their welcoming and informative storefront, where I learned about Depaz’s environmentally friendly farming and production practices as well as more about the sugar cane used to make their rhum, they emphasized the unique blue cane sugar, spring water and the volcanic ground, or “terroir”, local to the Mount Pelée region. Depaz Rhum’s latest offerings include a wide variety of white rhums, and aged rhums along with some special edition rhums that include specific vintages as well as exceptional barrel-finished rhums.
Well, all that walking around and learning had whet my appetite, so I was really looking forward to trying some of their rhums. After not so patiently waiting, a spot finally opened at the small tasting room bar. The friendly Depaz hostess was extremely helpful in explaining the differences between the rhums I wanted to sample. She generously gave me a sample of three whites and the same number of aged rhums. She wisely and professionally gave me enough to sample the elixir, without giving me too much to impair my ability to drive. I am not really a white rum drinker, however, their white rhums were incredibly unique to my palate. The aroma of one of them was pungent yet inviting, with a strong scent of wet green vegetation. The dominant tasting characteristic of the white rhums was a funky burn in the mouth and throat, however, it was kind of a good burn – much better than other white rums I have tasted. That said, I preferred the more flavourful aged rhums, especially the mellow and diverse taste of the reasonably priced ‘Cuvee Victor Depaz’, apparently a blend of bourbon-barrel-aged rhums between 3 and 6 years. I’m no connoisseur, however it tasted a little woody, fruity and herbal to me. When I open the bottle at home, I will try to imagine flavours of chocolate and prunes as suggested on the label. As I am very limited as to what I can bring home with me, I believe this was a solid choice!
After being amazed by the large colourfully labelled vats of rhum off the side of their shop, we called it a day – and it never did rain, or if it did, we didn’t notice it 🙂
Habitation Clement
A few days later we headed out to the illustrious Habitation Clement, located a little inland just south of Le Francois on the east side of Martinique. FYI – We visited the Habitation from the southeast region of the island and got lost trying to follow a Google maps shortcut. I suggest you just drive all the way into Le Francois and follow the ‘Habitation Clement’ signs at the main roundabout.
Anyways, once we found the place, we parked and paid a nominal fee to enter the property. The grounds are absolutely spectacular! Even if you’re not into rum, this is a great place to just stroll around and relaxingly take in the sights. Following the path from the entrance took us through a well-manicured landscape, including a couple of nice ponds. Fields of sugar cane and bananas surround the grounds – Crops we saw a lot of while exploring the island. Habitation Clement also highlights the work of many local artists, with their creative and imaginative creations displayed throughout the property. While I found some of the art pieces interesting, I was just as happy to feel the warmth of the sun, breath the fresh air and appreciate our gorgeous surroundings.
After a short sit on a bench soaking up the lush green Caribbean environment, we continued to follow the trail up a small hill to a small wooden structure with a grinding stone. The sugar cane crushing machinery would have been powered by a donkey walking around and around in circles. From this vantage point we had a great view of the palm grove and buildings below. At the bottom of the hill, the path took us through a wonderful variety of palm trees of different colours, shapes and sizes. We also passed another small pond, this one the canvass for another art display. From there we walked through a small patch of sugar cane and then things started to get more exciting, or at least more rhum themed.
We approached a building that just oozing with the strong but appealing smell of wood and aging rum. The scent was emanating of course from a warehouse full of rhum barrels – An overload to the nasal senses for sure. A little further along the trail and we came across a couple more warehouses filled with more Clement-stamped barrels of assorted shapes and sizes. After admiring the vast quantity of barrels in storage we went up the Clement Creole village consisting of a few old buildings that included a stable, a separate kitchen-house as well as the iconic Clement Greathouse, a graphic of which is used as their logo on every bottle of rhum and other products they sell. There is also a building that houses their renowned art exhibits. I was also enamored with the amazing old trees in the area, my favourites being a figuier, a red mahogany and a tamarind tree.
The path then took us into the old distillery for more things to see. It is no longer operating, however there are several old stills and various distillery machinery to look at. Upstairs the building houses an amazingly set of displays and presentations providing a detailed record of the history of sugar cane, rhum making, Martinique and Habitation Clement – Extremely informative and fascinating. By the way, an audio guide is available on your smartphone if you are interested in hearing all the details of the art displays and buildings encountered on the self-guided tour.
Eventually, our self-guided tour spilled us out into a small shop and sampling bar where some of Clément’s finest can be tasted. Latest offerings from Clement include a variety of white and aged rhums, as well as several rhum liqueurs and pre-mixed concoctions. I tried a white rhum and a young-age rhum as well as some rhum liqueurs and pre-mixed concoctions, with the highlight having to be a taste of a very well-aged cuvee – Extremely smooth and complex. That said, we ended up purchasing their Antilles (Planters) Punch to savour while we continued to vacation on the island.
It was a very enjoyable couple of hours, walking the well-manicured lawns, soaking up the warmth of the sun, appreciating the art, smelling the aromas of the barrel warehouses, and of course sampling Clement’s fine rhums and rhum liqueurs.
Distillerie Neisson
After one of our other Martinique adventures, we accidentally came across a distillery located on the western side of Martinique, just south of Le Carbet. Invited by the ‘Neisson Rhum’ signs along the N2 road, we thought we venture in for a look. We didn’t have time for a tour of the facility, however I understand that it consists of a stroll through a number of buildings that house a mill, a boiler, fermentation tanks, a column still, warehouses used for aging their rhums, as well as a bottling facility. After a brief look around, we visited their shop to sample a couple of aged rhums, and I ended up picking up one of their bottles of VO rhum, something I would never be able to find at home. I’ve never tasted a rhum so light and floral in my entire life – Very interesting. We enjoyed our brief visit to Rhum Neisson, and left with the impression of a small boutique rhum producer.
Ahhh – So many Martinique rhums, so little time… Other distilleries that I would have liked to have visited while we were on the island include La Mauny, Trois Rivieres, Habitation Saint Etienne (HSE), Dillon, La Favorite, J.M. and A1710 (Habitation Simon). Maybe next time 😊
If you’re interested in reading more about rum, check out our Caribbean Rum page and our Martinique Rhum page, which includes a list of Tour Operators who will get you sampling the island’s finest.
For an overview of beautiful and rugged Martinique, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page
Martinique Hiking – A French Caribbean Island Paradise
With Dominica to the north, and St. Lucia to the south, Martinique is pretty much the centre of the West Indies’ Lesser Antilles. As an “over-seas region” of France and the 3rd largest of the Windward Islands, Martinique is a very unique Caribbean island, and that holds true for its hiking trails as well. The island offers a variety of easy relaxing walks as well as some very challenging/mountainous hikes. Having stopped there as part of a cruise, we were only there for the day – We decided to try an easy and fun looking coastal trail known as the Circuit de la Caravelle.
The day started off by renting a car in Fort-de-France, which was a bit of an adventure in itself, but we’ll leave that for another day… Once we finally got our car, the drive from the Capital to the Presqu’Île de la Caravelle Peninsula took just under an hour, as the traffic was fairly heavy. The main roads on Martinique are large multi-lane highways, however they can get quite crowded. This made for a fairly uninteresting drive, as I had to keep my eyes on the road and all the traffic. Once we reached the peninsula however, the views and my mood started to improve. For a short stretch, the road followed the shoreline through a quaint tourist town. It had a laid-back atmosphere, with beachgoers sun tanning and playing in the water. There were little cafes and restaurants opposite the beach. All this helped to relax our frame of mind after the hectic drive. As we proceeded, the setting really started to improve, as more than half of the peninsula is a Nature Reserve.
We soon found out that the Chateau Dubuc area is a popular place, as the parking lot was overflowing, with cars parked all along the side of the narrow dirt road. C’est la vie. It was a gorgeous day for a walk – Very warm and sunny. At 86 (30c) degrees it seemed hot for early April… and we were about to find out that the couple litres of water we had brought, was somewhat insufficient to replenish the fluids we were about to lose. Thank goodness we had dressed light and had sun protective hats.
From the parking lot, it’s a short half kilometre walk to the plantation ruins of the Chateau Dubuc, although we decided to head the other way, and walk the main loop in a clockwise direction. We headed off for the lighthouse called the Phare de la Caravelle, via a winding gravel road through a green ‘dry forest’. The road had a gradual incline and eventually turned into a broken paved road before getting even steeper. As we were walking along, we heard a fairly constant, rustling in the leaves on either side of the trail. As a Canadian, I naturally thought of squirrels or small birds making the noise, but as we are in the Caribbean, I imagined the culprit might be lizards or iguanas… But no, upon closer inspection, we were surprised to realize that there were a number of large red crabs scurrying around in the foliage – Wow, I wasn’t expecting that!
After a little more than a mile (2km), we came across the side trail that branches off towards the lighthouse. We followed the short paved road uphill to a large wooden structure, where a few groups of hikers were taking refuge from the sun, eating snacks and drinking water. From the look of them, they had likely hiked the loop counter-clockwise and had just completed the dry exposed section of the trail along the coast, that we were heading towards. From here we discovered the cement staircase that led to the lighthouse and look-out area.
We climbed the stairs and came across a semi-circular monument/bench/map of sorts. The built-in map’s arrows pointed to the features and landmarks of the surrounding landscape that could be seen from this high ground. We could see various mountain ranges and peaks of the island, ranging from the north-east coast, Piton Lacroix on the other (west) side of the island, as well as the mountains south of Le Francois in the south-east of Martinique. Closer to where we were standing, we had an amazing panoramic view of the peninsula and surrounding bays and shorelines.
After soaking in the spectacular sights for awhile, we went all the way back down to the junction point and continued back on the main road which eventually transitioned into a more natural trail that headed towards the shoreline. We were getting anxious, as this narrow path provided a glimpse of the sea, hinting at the coastline trail we were approaching. This was a nice walk and we were accompanied by a bright orange butterfly (moth?) who meandered down the trail with us for a while.
Did I mention that it was hot and humid? Well, it was, and we were just about to leave the shelter of the low scrub-like trees to walk along the sun-soaked rocky shoreline of the peninsula’s east coast.
Ahhh, I was looking forward to this stretch of trail – We headed south down the wind-swept shoreline. We were thrilled with the eye-popping views of the rugged coastline and its multitude of blue inlets and bays. For the next mile (2km) or so, the picturesque trail consisted of dry gravelly coastline paths, some large sections of rock, a few man-made stairs, and some short forest trails that bypassed some dangerous cliffs. We even walked through a short 3-4 foot deep rut in the earth – that was weird. We really enjoyed this scenic coastal section of the trail! While the large rock sections provided the best views, we had to search a bit for the markers indicating where the trail was. Hiking this path was like a mini-roller-coaster ride, taking us up and down in elevation, sometimes 30-100 feet (10-40m) at a time.
While this was an absolutely beautiful trail, we were aware that there had been little shelter from the relentless heat of the sun which was high in the sky at this point. Thankfully, there was a great breeze coming off the Atlantic Ocean, and that, along with our water, kept us from over-heating. With the constant thought of having to get back to the cruise ship on time, we were moving at a fairly quick pace throughout the hike. We were only stopping to take the occasional picture of the amazing coastline and ocean views! Eventually, we reached a junction in the trail where a side path ventures further south along the coastline looping for another mile (2km) or more. My feet were kind of burning, so we decided to head back towards the Chateau at this point.
So, we traveled inland again, back into the dry forest landscape. That said, in less than a mile (2km), the terrain transitioned into mangroves. Perhaps the area was in need of rain, as we encountered some fairly dry mud patches. Suddenly, we were in for another treat – There were holes in the mud everywhere. It appears that there are dozens, if not hundreds of Soldier (Bernhard’s Hermit) crabs (that we had encountered earlier) living here! So Cool… After examining the place thoroughly, we now quickened our pace, which was a bit of a challenge as the path had many twists & turns and ups & downs as we climbed back up into the scrub forest.
I should mention that there was informative/educational signage (in French) along the way. They became more frequent as we neared the end of the trail. About 2 hours and 15 minutes after we left the car, we eventually reached the Chateau Dubuc, which we found out is the ruins of a large 17th-century plantation that grew coffee, tobacco and sugar among other things.
The ruins consist of the stone remains of a Greathouse along with a number of other buildings set magnificently on a hillside overlooking the well-protected Baie du Tresor. This would have been a large and extremely impressive plantation in its day, with the owners having their own slice of Caribbean paradise. I can easily imagine the buzz of activity all around the area, with the movement of people, crops and produce from the fields to the mills, warehouses and to & from the waterfront where ships would be anchored just offshore… The modest fee of 5 Euros per person to enter the grounds and view the small museum was well worth the price.
After the half kilometre walk back to the car and a change into some dryer clothes, we headed back to Fort-De-France, which this time took us about 40 minutes… Leaving us enough time to wander around the Capital for a while 😊.
ACT Staff
For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in Martinique, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
For an overview of this French Caribbean Island paradise, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page
If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Martinique Adventures blog for more great ideas! (coming soon)
For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the island, by checking out our Things to Do in Martinique blog (coming soon)
Chocolate & Spice, and Everything Nice about Grenada
Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique are the most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands – About 100 miles (165km) north of Trinidad & Tobago and the South American coast. The mountainous main island of Grenada is known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg and other seasonings, although it’s also becoming a mecca for chocolate lovers as well. Grenada may be one of the Caribbean’s ‘best-kept secrets’ offering unspoiled natural beauty and a wide variety of attractions to please travellers from all over. There are plenty of things to do in Grenada if you know where to look… Our personal favourites include:
Savour Grenada’s Chocolate Estates & Factories
The makers of fine chocolate in Grenada are proud of their organic locally grown cocoa as well as their ethical fair-trade production methods. Tourists will of course also appreciate the delicious chocolate products being made by the five chocolate companies on the island. We’re talking about organic pure dark chocolate bars, chocolate bars subtly flavoured with nutmeg, ginger or Caribbean sea-salt as well as cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, chocolate butter spread and a variety of chocolate drinks. Yum!
While cocoa was introduced to Grenada centuries ago, the last couple of decades has seen the rise of a successful chocolate ‘tree-to-bar’ movement on the island. Grenada’s high-quality chocolate is recognized by the International Cocoa Organization, which has listed Grenada as one of only 10 countries in the world to produce ‘100% fine and flavour cocoa’.
If you are a chocoholic, then you will love a tour of a local farm and see for yourself how the island’s cocoa is cultivated, processed and transformed into edible delights. Most tours offer tasty samples and of course they all end with an opportunity to buy a variety of Grenada chocolate delicacies from their gift stores. Crayfish Bay Organic Cocoa Estate; The Diamond (Jouvay) Chocolate Factory; The Grenada Chocolate Company; Belmont Estate Plantation; and Tri-Island Chocolate are all doing it right.
Known as the ‘spice island of the Caribbean’, it’s only natural for visitors to Grenada to want to know more about the island’s spice heritage and culture. It is fascinating to watch a local guide open the fruit of the nutmeg tree to reveal the mace-wrapped seed, which most of us will only recognize once its ground into powder. The Douglaston Spice Estate demonstrates the old-fashioned way of processing spices (and cocoa), however unfortunately there was a fire on the estate in 2020 and the current operational status of the estate is unknown. That said, the Gouyave Nutmeg Station is a popular tourist attraction to see how the island’s vast quantities of nutmeg are sorted and packaged for export. You can also learn more about Grenada’s spice trade on a tour of the West India Spices facility. Of course, delicious nutmeg and other spices and related products can be purchased at these locations as well as the De La Grenade Nutmeg Garden. De La Grenade features a 2-acre spice, flowering plant and fruit tree garden located next to their industrious Processing Facility where you can purchase a wide range of local Grenadian fruit and spice products.
Clarke’s Court Rum Distillery (AKA Grenada Distiller Ltd) is the self-proclaimed ‘largest and best-known distillery in Grenada’. The distillery has been in operation for over 80 years and offers guided tours of their historical site. Hear about the history of the distillery as well as the rum-making process, then the short tour ends in the Hospitality Center where a range of Clarke’s Court rums can be sampled and purchased.
The Westerhall Estate has also been blending and bottling quality rums for decades. Westerhall Estate offers tours of the estate grounds and a small museum where you can learn about the history and future of the estate and distillery. Complete the tour with rum tasting and shopping for your favourite Westerhall rums.
Dating back to the 18th century, River Antoine Estate is the oldest distillery in Grenada and is proudly home to one of the Caribbean’s oldest functioning watermills. The small boutique distillery still makes rum with traditional methods – It’s something to see! The distillery offers short tours accompanied by stories of historical rum-making along with some rum tasting. Rum purchases are also available on-site.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you some rum, check out our Grenada Rum page.
Explore the Cultural & Heritage Landmarks of Grenada’s Capital St. George’s
Fort George, Fort Frederick, and Fort Matthew are excellent examples of strategically positioned 18th-century bastion-style forts. Besides the historical majesty of Grenada’s oldest structures, the locations of these forts provide spectacular views of the town, harbour, and the Caribbean Sea as well as inland to the island itself.
The 340 foot (100m) long Sendall Tunnel, connecting Fort George with the rest of the city, is another attractive and impressive historical site. For more history of Grenada, check out the National Museum’s display of local pictures and other artifacts.
For the shop-o-holic in your group, take a walk around St. George’s Market Square to get your fill of spices, crafts, and souvenirs. The hustle and bustle of this local fruit & vegetable market is a popular attraction for new visitors to Grenada.
There are also a number of churches to view in St. George’s. They include the iconic 19th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral, which features a large gothic tower, as well as the Methodist Church, which is the oldest surviving chapel on the island. Unfortunately, restorations of the Anglican and Presbyterian 19th-century churches, from 2004’s hurricane Ivan, have yet to be completed as of 2020.
For more information, along with tour operators to get you walking St. George’s, visit our Things to Do in Grenada page.
Relax at a Colourful Grenada Garden
There are over half a dozen gardens in Grenada where you can enjoy a nice leisurely stroll.
The Tower Estate Garden features a historical ‘Great House’ set among fruit, spice and wood trees alongside an amazing 2-acre floral garden. They offer house tours, garden tours, organic farm tours, afternoon tea, and Sunday brunch. Jessamine Eden Tropical Botanical Garden covers an amazing 60 acres that include rivers and trails to explore. The colonial Sunnyside Gardens is home to flowers, mahogany, palm and fruit trees as well as koi ponds, and some red-foot tortoises. Guided tours of Laura Herb & Spice Gardens ensure you get the most out of viewing their herbs, spices, fruit trees, other plants and vegetables. A gift shop and relaxing gazebo are also on-site.
Other Grenada gardens include: St. Rose Nursery & Garden features orchids, shrubs and herbs; Hyde Park Tropical Garden offers stunning views of the south end of the island; Smithy’s Garden includes an ‘old’ garden of fruit trees, and ornamental plants, as well as a ‘new’ garden that is home to a variety of rainforest plants; and Palm Tree Gardens’ two acres display a wide variety of palm trees, flowers and is also home to some red-footed tortoises.
Grenada is blessed with diverse natural beauty and there is no better place to experience that than in one of the island’s parks or other natural settings.
Located in the mountainous central highlands of Grenada, Grand Etang Lake and National Park is the island’s famous tropical rain forest, best known for its iconic Crater Lake, and several nearby waterfalls. The island’s most popular nature destination contains a variety of ecological subsystems of flora and fauna including large trees, ferns, colourful flowers and birds, along with frogs, lizards and a few small mammals. If you are lucky, you might even see a Mona monkey living in the wild.
Located in the northeast corner of Grenada, Levera National Park covers 450 acres, including a mangrove wetland called Levera Pond. This Ramsar site features a Boardwalk with an observation tower, making it an ideal location for birding and just relaxing in nature. The Park also contains a long coastline with a great beach and nearby hills which offer spectacular views of a number of small offshore islands. Overlooking Levera Pond with spectacular views of Ronde Island, Carriacou and perhaps even the Grenadines on a clear day, is the hilltop known as the Welcome Stone – Somewhat tricky to get there, but the views provide ample reward.
Located nearby, is the River Sallee Sulphur Springs, which is home to 6 natural springs and warm mud baths. Tourists are welcome to relax in some of the inviting sulphur bath/mud holes. Situated just south of the centre of the island, the Clabony Sulphur Springs is a waist-deep natural spring-fed pond filled with clear warm water.
Situated near the south end of the island, the Morne Gazo Nature Reserve is an eco-tourism ‘birding’ site with rainforest walking trails and features a hilltop observation area with an amazing panoramic view of the east coast and the Atlantic Ocean. Also located in the southern end of Grenada is the Mount Hartman National Park / Dove Sanctuary which features a unique environment not found anywhere else on the island. The combination of dry forest woodlands and mangroves makes it an ideal location for ‘birding’ and is home to the last remaining endemic Grenada Doves.
The most popular natural area in Carriacou is the High North Nature Reserve / National Park. From the highest peak on the island, you can relish spectacular panoramic views of Carriacou, Grenada, and the nearby Grenadine Islands surrounded by the sparkling blue sea.
Consider other Popular Grenada Tourist Attractions
Situated at the north tip of Grenada is the historical site of Carib’s Leap (AKA Leapers Hill), where the last of the island’s indigenous people jumped to their death to avoid being captured by French soldiers. The spot is also a great location for sensational views of the sea and nearby offshore islands. Then there is the town of Gouyave which hosts a weekly fish fry. Street vendors offer all sorts of fish meals, accompanied by music and entertainment. Meanwhile, over on Carriacou, an important and popular attraction is the Windward Boatyard located on the northeast coast of the island. Here you can immerse into the culture and soul of Carriacou by visiting the location where traditional boat making has been carried on for generations.
ACT Staff
For a more complete review of Grenada Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things To Do in Grenada page.
If you’re looking for something more active that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our recommended Grenada Adventures blog
For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Grenada Vacations page
